LABOUR LEADER Eamon Gilmore has disciplined Dublin North East TD Tommy Broughan following his decision not to vote against the passing of gangland crime legislation week.
Mr Broughan abstained on the final vote on the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill, which would see most gangland criminals facing trial before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
The Labour leader last night said he was removing Mr Broughan as Labour’s assistant whip “arising from his failure to vote with his party colleagues in a Dáil vote on Friday last”.
Mr Gilmore, who met Mr Broughan in Leinster House yesterday afternoon, said: “A new assistant whip will be appointed before the resumption of the Dáil in September.”
Mr Broughan did not give advance warning to colleagues that he was going to abstain, though he left the chamber shortly before the vote was taken, some TDs have said.
The removal of the assistant whip’s position can be judged as a minor discipline by Mr Gilmore over Mr Broughan’s decision to abstain.
Labour TD Pat Rabbitte strongly opposed the Minister for Justice’s legislation, arguing that the need for much of the extra powers had not been shown, while it was also being rushed through the Oireachtas.
